Spring 2026 - Weeks 8 - 9

 Memorial Day Weekend

Belmont Festival Week

The last two weeks are a bit of a blur to be honest.  Over Memorial Day weekend Kim and I moved into our new condo in Orlando.  It's just so ideal.  Fifteen minutes from Disney Springs, thirty minutes tops from our son Brad.  Sits overlooking a small lake and the rooms are even bigger than we remembered.  I could fill and entire book with the "struggles" we had getting the furniture and everything set up, but at this point, the first week in June 2026, it's close to being done.  We'll so much enjoy running up there probably every month for a week or ten days.  Will be like a monthly vacation!  And we so enjoyed having Kim's twin sister Karrie with us for that first week.  

So, back to racing.  After the  getting the condo largely set up through the week, Friday was Penn Mile Night.  I usually do pretty well on that evening of mutli-stakes races.  Went winless with three seconds and a third from six selections.  Saturday's featured event was Churchill's Foster Preview Day.  Looked like the numbers from Friday would even out as I rattled off four wins in a row.  In the opener at Churchill Battiis Grove went wire to wire.  And then minutes later Paris Carver drew off at Monmouth.

The 3rd on the Jersey Shore was the Miss Liberty Stakes.  Ozara tracked a slow pace, moved up at the furlong pole and eased by late.  Missed in the 4th at Churchill before Touch of Fire drew off in the first of the stakes races in Louisville.

The rest of the day....sigh.....a ten race skid with five runner-up finishes and two show placings.  Then finished the weekend with an 0-for-3 day at Monmouth on Sunday

Belmont Festival Week

Wednesday June 3

Kim and I drove home to So Fla on Wednesday morning and I had handicapped the first three days of the Belmont Festival Week being run at Saratoga for the third and final time while Belmont Park goes through the final phases of rennovations.  It was "funny" to me because I went 0-for-4 to begin ghe day with two seconds and two thirds (all around it, again) before Sculcos Folly wired the Mike Lee Stakes.  He paid a generous $8.32, I cashed for over $40 and suddenly I'm ahead for the day!  Missed on the final pick, so I finished about even.

Thursday June 4 - Friday June 5

 The Thursday program saw me with only four selections.  Two went off as short priced favorites (6/5) and 1/1), the other two as "contenders" (9/2 & 5/2).  Only one hit the board.  Like on Wednesday both the turf and dirt course seemed very front end biased.  EXCEPT for the two times I had the front runner, then they were run down, of course.  Friday started the same.  My pick was sent off at 3/5 and came to the long short front runner turning for home.  Couldn't catch them.  Second.  The next selection was in the fourth, the Grade 3 Bed O'Roses.  It was tough separating  Ways and Means from the other likely front running choice, but I went with the defending champ.  'Ways sat just off the 9/5 front runner.  Turning for home she edged closer, bot to within half a length and for a full furlong of the lane made up nothing.  "Really?" I thought.  But in the final fifty yards she surged and was UP in a head-bobbing finish.  WHEW!

In the next I had the 3/2 favorite loose on the lead.  Run down in the final 100 yards.  Then second on the turf at 2/1.  In R7, an allowance event going nine furlongs, Brad Cox's Money Game surged between runners into the lane....three way duel, JUST in front on the wire at 5/2.

Second at 6/5 in the Grade 2 Wonder Again when Lion Lake moved with dead aim and couldn't get by the front runner.  Then 2nd at 4/5 when the unbeaten Kentucky Oaks winner, Always A Runner couldn't get by the filly she'd easily run by in the Oaks a month ago.  Completely stopped at 9/5 in the Grade 1 New York on the turf and I began to wonder if I'd win again today.  The Grade 1 Ogden Phipps was up next.  Last year, as a 3yo Nitrogen dominated through the spring as the best 3yo turf filly in the country.  Then they tried her on the dirt.  I was genuinely surprised when she won the Grade 1 Alabama.  And was surprised when she was second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.  I had her in her first start at Oaklawn this year as a 4yo in the Azeri, but then she flattened out in both of the next two.  So I had mixed emotions here, and even commented I really think she's a better turf animal.  Shows what I know as she drew off by a zip code to win.  AND I was a clever boy to up the wager from the minimum to a double investment.

Saturday June 6

With the arrival of Belmont Day I was looking through my emails when I noticed a reminder that TwinSpires was offering a "Bet Back" of up to $10 on a win wager if you ran 2nd or 3rd.  I recalled, with disgust if I'm being honest, that I'd had good weekends on Derby and Preakness weekend by taking advantage of that offer.  And looking back to Wednesday, ten of the sixteen races I'd lost, I'd have got my money back.  What WAS I thinking?  So I opted in for both Saturday and Sunday's races.  Saturday I played the Monmouth races along with Saratoga's massive card.  And I'd seen that Canterbury had stakes races in their twilight starting program AND that it was Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs.  That's the only night I ever play there.  In five of the first six races from Saratoga I ran second or third and got my money back!  I had a win with  Madeline Swan and a second in the first two races from the Jersey Shore.

After the Madeline Swan win I ran 2nd or 3rd in the next four Saratoga races and lost both races from New Jersey.  Finally, and it honestly made me felt good about the day when I made my BET of the Day on Nysos in the Grade 1 Met Mile.  I have said before,  like prior to the Breeders' Cup when he was the Bet of the Weekend, he's the best thoroughbred I've seen since Flightline.  Right to the front.  Then when two others insisted on the lead jockey Flavian Prat took back and let them have it.  On the turn he eased Nysos outside, gave a shake of the reigns and Nysos bid them a pleasant good afternoon while drawing off by a pole without being asked.  Super impressive.

A disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Manhattan on the turf.  In the Belmont I really, REALLY liked Todd Pletcher's Renegade.  After breaking poorly and having traffic trouble in the Kentucky Derby he just missed when the winner edged by.  I thought with a clean break he'd be much the best.  Sat a great trip, moved strongly at the furlong pole.  Then the Derby winner blew by.  I had considered earlier in the afternoon changing my bet to him because trainer Cherie DeVaux was interviewed and she said he'd been "ready" for the Derby but since then he'd grown physically and mentally and that today "he's a real race horse."  But I really don't like changing my mind after I've made my picks.  After losing the first selection at Canterbury I won back to back races.  Thunders Rocknroll easily best in the Lady's Slipper and Sushi was a daylight winner as well.  Unfortunately both were short prices and it didn't do a lot to help the bottom line on the day.

Couldn't catch the front runner in the first stakes at Evangeline when 2nd at 1/5 odds.  Came right back to run off three in a row.  Street Warrior dueled early and then was long gone in Canterbury's 10,000 Lakes Stakes at a meager 2/5.  Back-to-back wins at Evangeline in Louisiana Legend affairs when Creole Chrome proved worthy of his 1/9 odds and then Midnight Passion was an easy winner at 3/5.  Lost the final bet when the 1/5 favorite in the La Legend ran third for me.

Sunday June 7
Sunday I handicapped Saratoga as they wrapped up their Festival of Racing and of course Monmouth.  But Churchill Downs as well.  I noted in the analysis how smart I thought the Churchill racing secretary was.  Rather than try to compete with the big Belmont card he put the Grade 3 Matt Winn for 3yo colts on this Sunday card and had a supporting stakes event.  That way they shared the spotlight with racing on the day.  Again, I thought the numbers were going to balance out as I rattled off three wins in a row with my first three selections:  Copernium was tons the best in the Jersey Shore opener.  Returning Grade 1 Cotillion winner Scottish Lassie easily dominate the third at Saratoga.  And Trouble Calling scored a mild upset at 5/2 in the second in Louisville.

But then I missed on the next half dozen with only two of them hitting the board, only one of the six being any kind of a price.  The sixth at Churchill was the Leslie's Lady overnight stakes.  And the make up of the field could easily made it a Grade 3 if not a Grade 2.  Bob Baffett's Explora had last run in the Kentucky Oaks as one of the betting choices but had to duel through fast fractions.  He said after the race he'd given serious thought to running in Saturday's Grade 1 Acorn at Saratoga but opted to stay here for what seemed a better spot for her.  Right to the front she was hounded by a longshot to the turn.  But that one away only to be confronted by one of the other betting choices.  Dueled to the furlong pole then drew off to score by daylight.

Ghe featured Grade 3 Soaring Softly at Saratoga was a five and a half furlong turf sprint.  Slay The Day pressed the leader through the far turn then drew off in an impressive fashion as the 3/5 favorite.  My pick in Monmouth's JJ Reilly Handicap was The Great Navigator who always seemed to run well here on the Jersey Shore.  I knew he wouldn't be favored but 16/1 was an absurd price.  He closed late to grab third - good pick without anything to show for it.

The feature at Churchill was the Grade 3 Matt Winn for 3yo's. Further Ado had gone off as the tepid favorite in the Kentucky Derby but did not have the best trip.  Today he was forwardly placed while patiently handled by Irad Ortiz.  Made his move in the upper stretch and drew off.  Closed the day with the fourth win from five picks when Woodruff found another gear under Paco Lopez in a turf claiming event in the Monmouth finale.

The most interesting part of the statistic for the five days to me was that while I was just a smidge under my typical winning percentage (32%) I was indeed all around it as 87% of the runners I selected that did not win, finished 2nd or 3rd.  The highlight of next weekend's action is it's "Haskell Preview Day" at Monmouth with multiple stakes events on the docket.

So I met with my buddy Paul on Sunday before the races and during the course of our conversation I happened to tell the story of my best gal-pal Kimmy (and favorite former student) thinking enough of me to stop during a shopping trip to take a pic of the kind of heart-healthy chips I should have and send it to me.  Then when I sent her a pic of me with the chips her messaging back how proud she was of me :)  Paul remarked what a cool relationship we had.  Fast forward to this week I returned from a walk and as I started to come in I saw a wonderful sunrise.  Posted it on Facebook then sent it to Kimmy.  Immediately got a reply and such a sweet conversation.....

Spring 2026: Week 7

 A Slow Week - The New Condo

Memorial Day weekend and I had a limited number of races but scored with my typical high 30%.  The week started with me heading over to the Panthers arena to meet our Account Manager Sophie.  She'd called about Kim's procedure and I'd asked if I came over would she show me the location of our brick.  We spent a nice time together and she was so sweet offering to try and help get Kim's seat so her feet touched the floor.  Kim left on Friday to begin bringing things to Orlando and to pick up her twin sister Karrie who came to help.  While they were gone I worked on handicapping, more creative writing, watching hockey and packing my own stuff for the trip.  I opted to play Monmouth, Gulfstream, Churchill, and Santa Anita.  Four of the eight wins I had came at Monmouth Park.....

I also hit the Churchill feature and three stakes events at Santa Anita:

Sunday the track was a muddy soup and I only had one win from five selections at Monmouth.  I got the pp's for the Monday holiday card but as I scanned the entries I thought the card looked pretty weak....and I was going to be driving to Orlando and moving into the condo.  So I opted to only be one runner and he won that 2yo MSW dash.

The condo move in was "interesting" to say the least but by that evening we were in and the view off the balcony was pretty spectacular

And shout out to my girl Kimmy who took an interest in my update on my eye shot.  

Spring 2026: Week 6

 May 15-17:  Preakness Weekend

Another really good weekend of racing as i scored EIGHTEEN times over the three day weekend for a profit of well over $80.  And had a heart warming, "feels good" exchange with a former student, now best adult friend gal-pal to add to the weekend.  Here's how it all played out for me.....

The week started out with an anxiety filled day when I took my wife Kim to Baptist Health for a heart procedure.  Fortunately all went well and I picked her up at 6:30pm on Wednesday evening and brought her home without any complications.  A huge thank you to the Florida Panthers for offering the free heart CT scan that caught her blockage of 90-95%.  Friday was Black Eyed Susan Day and I had handicapped not only the Laurel card - yes, with renovations going on at Pimlico, this year's Preakness weekend was being held at Laurel - and Churchill Downs.  Missed at 9/5 with my first bet but in the second Big Tankness was the pick in a conditioned allowance.  The conditions read "...have not won a race other than, or two races...."  I've never been able to figure out how this works, and I've seen it several times.....Big Tankness had just beaten an allowance, nw1x field for his second win.  So by the conditions I'm reading, he can't run here.  But he did and edged clear late as the 4/5 favorite.

A scratch of a selection and two passes brought me to the second in Louisville where Buckeye Bombshell looked like the obvious choice in a $50K maiden claiming dirt route.  Toss the sprint route and all the other races produced numbers clearly better than everything else on the page.  Tracked the 5/2 second choice into the lane, split rivals and drew off.

I was off the board (5th and 4th) in the next two, both at 2/1 odds.  Then it was time for the first of the stakes on the Laurel card, the Grade 3 Miss Preakness.  I went with a mild upset pick in this 3yo filly sprint with Peach Tie who was listed at 4/1 in the program.  She was already a multiple stakes winner and was 3-for-4 locally.  But best of all she was sent out by top trainer Brittany Russell with husband Sheldon riding.  The field broke out of the gate and all of them lined up across the track vying for the early lead except two, one of which was Peach Tie who loped along at the back.  On the turn she picked up momentum and came flying down the middle of the track.  She collared the surviving front runner at the 16th pole and drew clear.  The best part - she did NOT pay 4/1, she went off at an unbelievable 7/1 price and I cashed for over $80!

Missed on the next three, including my "prime time" pick in the Hilltop Stakes where Ultimate Love was the 4/5 favorite but was 2nd best.  Luckily TwinSpires was offering the same "Bet Back" promotion as they did on Derby week and I got half my money back.  In the tenth, the Allaire DuPont stakes for older fillies and mares going nine furlongs I felt Margie's Intention was a very legitimate favorite.  In fact she'd won the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last year at this same trip.  She had excuses - including finishing third in a pair of Gr 1 events, but she'd gone winless for trainer Brad Cox since then.  Sent off at 3/5 she sat fourth through the turn, took aim on the front runner who'd skipped away to a daylight advantage, but ran her down inside the 16th pole.

After just running around the track in the The Very One Turf Sprint Stakes I didn't have a strong opinion in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.  Six of the seven had nearly identical Beyers but Saffie Joseph's Navajo Warrior had run a big number last time out.  IF he could get the distance and repeat, he would win.  Right to the front, pressed throughout.  Spurted clear in the lane and drew off.

The "big one" was next, the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan.  I say this every year, but it bears repeating.  Typically all of the very best 3yo fillies strive to make the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks two weeks previous to this race.  So when we get to Maryland you really don't have any of the "star" fillies.  My Miss Mo had been out twice as a 3yo and run 2nd in back-to-back Gr 2 events.  Her figures had been significantly better than her juvenile numbers and she appeared to be sitting on a peak performance.  Pressed the 12/1 front runner into the lane, dueled to the 16th pole and edged clear late.  Finished the day 6-for-13 with a nice profit.

Saturday:  Preakness Day

Preakness Saturday opened and I was handicapping for Sunday thinking the first race, like Friday, was at 11:30.  I went to check for scratches and discovered the first race was at 10:30am and I'd missed my first bet.  But he ran second, so good call :)  Missed on the next three but did get my money back on the middle one when I ran second.  In the fifth, an entry level allowance I thought I Love Giraffes had a eal chance at a price.  Tracked the quintet of leaders to the turn, glided by and opened up.  Tired late by held on by, as track announcer Dave Rodman called it, "a long neck" - get it....giraffe :)  Best part of the story, she went off at 7/1 and I collected over $40.

Next on the sheet was the second from Monmouth.  A cheap $5K "beaten" two turn route.  Skylander was not only dropping in claiming price but was going from stiffer NYRA rivals to this event on the Jersey Shore.  Rocketed to a double digit lead and never looked back as the 1-2 favorite.  "Everyone" agreed in the Sir Barton at Laurel, a 3yo route that Final Story would be difficult to beat.  But a price horse got to the lead and never looked back as 'Story closed too late to finish 2nd.  The seventh at Laurel was another stakes, the Chick Lang.  A 3yo sprint and as I noted, sometimes handicapping is just as simple as "who's the best horse."  Obliteration was.  Unlike Final Story, when he took dead aim on the leader in the lane, he ran right by him and drew off easily for my third win of the day.

My next wins came in the Monmouth feature when Lost Horizon drew off in the Serena's Song.  And then in the Monmouth finale when Man With The Money paid near $10.

The Churchill card didn't start until 6pm and I scored twice including with the featured Grade 3 Louisville where Burnham Square was my BEST Bet Of The Day.  I also hit the down-the-hillside turf course feature at Santa Anita when Queen Maxima held on.

Sunday I added three winners at Monmouth to the weekend's totals....

 

Preakness Weekend Racing Highlights

This week when Kim had her procedure and fortunately it all went well.  Every since my gal-pal Kimmy graduated college and we re-connected she's always been a go-to for me with concerns and helping me through situations.  It was certainly easier before she moved to North Carolina, but I'm so happy for her that she's so happy with her husband and two little ones.  Was so sweet she reached out right away when I shared our heart scan stories, and even more so the concern she showed for my health.  She gave me "mom advice" to avoid seed oils and I said I liked chips...she told me the kind of chips to look for.  Then randomly two days later my phone flashed "KIMMY" and there was no message, just a photo of the chips.  While grocery shopping she saw them, thought of me and sent the image.  How very sweet and considerate.  I ordered two bags immediately and they arrived that evening.  Took a picture and set it to her.  Nearly immediately she replied she was proud of me.  That girl :)

Then Saturday